Starter for explosive-engines.



W. E. BUCK.

STARTER PoR EXPLOSIVB ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.`30, 1911.

Patented Nov. 5, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l,

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INVENTQR l J, f;

W. E. BOGK. STARTER POR BXPLosIVE ENGINES.

APPALIOATION FILED 00T. 30, 1911.

lNVENTR wig/LM 6M/.

ALU. W

vvxTN ESSES: $2 c. m

W. E. BUCK. STARTER FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED 001230, 1911.

Patented Nov. 5, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR.

WITNESSES: QQ. C. Mm W'MW/, mmw/l.

WILLIAM EMIL nook, or'rorinno, oHro.

' STARTER FOR EXPLOSIVEvENGINES.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1912.

Application filed October 30, 1911t Serial No. 657,480.

To all whom it may concern:

Beitknown that I, 'WILLIAM EMIL BooK,

a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Toledo, in the count of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invente a'ce'rt-ain new and useful Starter for Explosive-Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others'skilled in the art to which itappert-ains vto make and use the same, reference being-had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figuresr of reference marked thereon, I part of this specication.

which yform a My invention relates to starting means for internal combustion engines, and is par- `ticularly intended for use in automobiles,

power-boats, or the like, but is not restricted 'to such use as it may be used in any connection for which it may be' adapted or appropriate.

The object of my invention is the provision of a starting means o f this character, which is simple and efficient in its' construc- '7 is what may be termed a rotary breechtion, 4easy and inexpensive to operate, and

adapted to'utilize Huid pressure in copera-- tion with suitable mechanism to im'partthe initial or starting movements to an associated engine shaft.

- The invention is fully described in the following specification, and while, in' its broader aspect, it is capable of embodiment in numerous forms, a' preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying' drawings, in which,-` y

Figurel is a 'central longitudinal section of 'the starterv mechanism attached to the dash of an automobile and a in connection with the fly-wheel of the engine thereof,with

a portion'of the dash broken away. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section thereof on the line m, m in Fig. 1, with Vthe cartridge carrying part partly turned to cartridge receiving and ejecting-position. -Fig.'3 is a similar enlarged section of the charge receiving end of the apparatus, with Vdiife'r'ent positi'ons of thering means shown in dotted lines. Fig. 4 is a rear view of a-` portionof the dash andassociated cartridge receiving.

andoper'ating parts of the apparatus. Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged cross-sections respectively on the lines Y, Y and Z, Z in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is an' upper end view ,of the apparatus,

and Fig. 8isa central section through the :adapted to fit into the inserted therein or ejected therefrom through cient length to permit cartridge carrying part, with the cjecting parts moved to shell ejecting position.

Referring tothe drawings, 1 designates the dash of'an automobile, Q, 2 vthe sidebeams of its frame, '3 the engine shaft of the associated vpropelling motor, and 4 the fly-wheel thereof.

A Secured in any suitable manner, as by bolts 5, to the forward side of the dash 1 wit-hin the hood-ledge 6 thereon is the head casting or portion i' of my apparatus, which 'is provided therethrough in parallelism with the dash with a cylindrical bore or chamberv 8 and .with a preferably outwardly flaring opening 9, which opens communication between a registering opening 10 in the dash and the bore 8. The head 7 is also provided,

the present instance, at its lower side and in the plane of the opening 9, with an open` ing or bore 11, which extends radially from the bore 8 and forms a portion of the barrel or combustion chamber of the apparatus, as hereinafter described.

Mounted within .the bore 8 of the head block ,12, which is vof cylindrical form in cross-section 'and has a transverse radially-- i in, the outer or open end of which is adapted to be placed into register with either of the head openings 9 and 11 by a turning block.

` 14 designates a cartridge shell, which is socket 13, and to be the opening 9-10. The shell and socket are preferably both tapered or slightly en'- larged from the inner to the outer ends thereof, as shown, to facilitate an ejection of one from the other.

The rotary movements of the breechblock 12'within the head T, to place its socket 13 into register with either of the openings of the 9 or 11, are co-ntrolledvby a lever l5, which Y has its inner end -mounted within aY transverse recess or sl0t 16 provided in one end of the block 12. The opposite end of this lever is projected through a` registering slot dash 1, which slotis only of vs uiii- 17 inf-the the lever to have the requisite movements to place t-he block socket 13 into register with either opening 9, 11 of the head 7. To adapt the lever 15 to alsoserve as a shell-ejector it is fulcrum'ed within the slot 16 of the breech-block, as at 1S, Figs. 1 and S, for oscillatory movements in a plane parallel to the block axis and has its inner end attached to an ejector-pin 19 lo impart movements thereto longitudinally of the block when the lever is oscillated on its tnlcrnm The ejector-pin has its inner end tapered, and is adapted, when moved inwardly, to exert a. wedge-like action on the inner end of a shell within the socket 12 to eject the same therefrom, as shown in Fig. 8. The lever 15 cannot be moved upon its'tuleruni 1S to elect an ejection of a shell until it has been svvung the full limit oi its upsirolte, when it Will stand in register with the lateral branch 1Ta of the guide-slot 1T into which it can then be moved to Work the ejector-pin 19.

il reeiprocallwv nn 'able firing-pin 2O is carried hy the breech-block 12 Wit-hin a socket il at the inner end of and in axial register vvith the socket 13 in position to strike the ap of a shell 11 disposed therein, as shown in l'ig. The tiring movements ot the pin O are actuated by the inivard movennmts el .fr hammer member which. in the present instance. is of stud forni and lits within the outer end portion of the socket 21 for reciprocal movements therein. 'This hammer loose!)v attached at its outer end to a spring-linger which is iirinly attached at one end to the dash 1, or a part ot the head T, as at 2.3', and has its tree end projecting iorivard cx r the head T, as best shown in l-`igs. 2, 5S and @and normally tending to hold the hammer at the limit ot its inarelte. The spring 23 shown in Fig. T as ha ring opposite'edge of its inner end portionincut, as at o, and its outer end incut, as at .7; to torni the spaced outwardly projecting lingers `r'. Fingers 24, project over the lop of the head T from respective plates 25, seemed to the opposite ends of the breech-block ,l2 to turn therewith, and

react with the spring' 233 to control the ham'- iner retract ing and striking movements thereof. When the breech-block is in the tiring pftsition shown in Fig. 3, the Fingers :Z-l .stand in register with lli-e incuts a, a of the spring and the spring holds the hammer :22 subsantiall;rv in Atiring contact with the tiring pin 7^ shown in Fig. Upon a turning oi' thc breech-Mock to shell eX- lrart'ing and receiving position, the lingers il. which turn therrnvith, work over the position shon'n in full lines in Fig. 3. lpon spring lingers and act thereon to eti'ect the return movement of the breech-block to tiring position the lingers Q4 pass under the spring fingers c, c and effect a raising of the spring to the dotted line position e 1n Fig. 3 prior to the release of the spring by the moving of the fingers le into register with the incuts a. thereof. Upon such release of the spring the hammer is actuated thereby to strike the firing-pin and explode the cartridge. The release of the spring is timed to take place instantly upon a moving of the breech-block socket 13 into full register with the discharge opening 11.

Threaded into the opening 11 or other- Wise. suitably attached to the head T lin axial register with such opening is one end of a barrel or tuhular part 26, the opposite or lower end of Which is anchored to a hollow frame-part 2T, which is suitably attached in tangential relation to one side Ot a housing Q8 incasing the tlv-Wheel 4, with the hollon7 of the frame-part openinginto the`interi0r of said housing.

-i plunger 29 is mounted for reciprocal movements in the barrel 26 and is of suitable length to extend from adjacent to the breech-block 12 to the interior of the framepart QT, and, in the present instance, car.- ries a. block 30 at its lower end for recipro caly movements in said frame-part. The lower end of the block 30 is longitudinalbT forked to permit the -fulcrnming therein of an angled or, in the present insta-nce, substantially L-shaped paul 31, which is mounted on a pin 32 within said block. This pawl has its long arm extending upwardly Afor a shorty distance at the side of the plunger 29 with its free end angled slightly in the direction of the periphery of the fly-Wheel 4,

to adapt it, when svi-'ung slightlv7 outward from the retract-ed position shown in Fig. 1, to engage a registering one of the annular series of ratchet-teeth 3S on the y-Wheel periphery. The pawl 31 has a tail-piece 34 projecting transversely of ythe plunger in position to make Contact with a suitable yielding bumper means 35, when at the up per end of its stroke with the plunger, to retract the pau'l from ratchet engaging p04- sition, as' shown in F ig. 1, and to malte contact 1vvith a similar bumper means 3G at the loiver end of the frame part QT when the plunger is at the end of its outstroke to effeet a throwing of the pavvl into engagement with the ratchet teeth.

Mounted for sliding longitudinal movements upon the upper end portion of the barrel is sleeve 3T which is rigidly connected to the plunger 29 h v rivets or other suitable fastening means 3S which project through oppositelv disposed longitudinal slots 39 provided in the barrel 2G. rvThese rivets also preferably carry guide strips 40 which Work in the slots 39. see Fig. 1. The upper end of the sleeve 3T 'Whichis disposed masses,

turned ory flanged outwardly, as at 4.1, .to

provide a shoulder to receive the upp er endthrust oii Va coiled compression spr-ing 42,

which encircles the sleeve and` barrel and has its. lower end-thrust, in the present instance, against the stationary frame-part 27. Upon an out/stroke of the plunger 29- actuated by fluid pressure, such; as, for instance, the expansion of gases occasioned by an. explosion within, the upper end of the barrel 26.01. withinthe socket 13i in register therewith, the spring 42 is.- compressed whereby to storel energy therein, and 'when such iuid pressure has spent its. force upon c block. The impact upon the upper end of t'he plunger 29 occasioned by the expansion of gases within: the combustion end of' thel the-plunger, the spring 42 then acts to impart a powerful in or'return stroke thereto, whereby tocommunicate-a starting rotation tothe ily-wheel through the medium of the pawl 31 and ratchet; teeth 33, which are in engagement duringV such instroke.

The upper end portion of the spring 42 is incasedby' a tubular shell part 43 which is threaded or. otherwise suitably attached to the bottom of the head. 7 and is preferablyprovided adjacent its upper endiwitli an internal annular shoulder 44 to limit the-out'- ward movement of' an annulusv orring-like member 45, which loosely encircl'esthe 'upper end, portion off the barrel 26. bufferspring46 encircles the-upper.- end of: the bar'- rel 26 and has its opposite ends. thrust against the head' A7 and annulus 45., The spring 461forms, a spring buier for lreceivin aniulusl upon the instrokeof the plunger. When the plunger 29is at or adjacent the limit of its-outstroke the'upper shell, it1being', of course, understood Vthat at the time theexhaust takes place the upper endotthe sleeve 37 is below said ports. The

cartridge wads. which are driven into .the barrel 26 by. the discharge of a cartridge,

are forced, by the return, stroke of the 'plunger back into thesocket 13 or the shell 14 andare vdischarged from thel breechlever 15 to its ncrmalpositientb return thef breechbleclr1 into .position for the socket 13 to. register withthe. barrel opening or` comthe impact of the sleeve 37 against the -end thereof; uncovers a series of exhaust ports-47 through` bustion 'chamber 11. As the-breech-block is' returned to this position, the fingers 24-24 which project from -the end thereof under.

the spring iingers c, c work rearwardly in contact with the under sides of such spring yfingers and effect a raising of the spring to the abnormal dottedposit-ion e, (F ig. Then the breech-block has been turned a suiiieient distance to place its socket 13 into guli. register with the combustion en'd of the bait-rel, the fingers' 24 will have moved i-nto :register with. the incuts a, a of the spring 23 rtorelease thespring and permit it to actuate the-hammer 22 to strike the tiring-pin 20 to explode the cartridge carried by the breechbarrel imparts a rapid and forceful' outgstroke to the'plunger against the pressure of Y the spring- 42; lVhen tlie plunger has vreached the limit of its outstroke thapawl. z31 will. have moved into engagement with a registeringV tooth inthe ratchet 33 due to the vtail-piece 34; ofi the pawl striking the-bumper means- 36. The vexplosionor fluid pressure fwithin the combustion end. of the barrel ghaving spent itsy force upon the plunger andl 'exhausted throughthe-ports 47 to the atmosphere, the spring 42, which-was compressed 95 upon the outstroke ,of the plunger, acts thereon to impart a powerful and rapid in- .stroke thereto and a consequent quick turnzing, ofi thely-wheel by reason of the pawl 31 gbeing n engagement with one of the ratchet teethtliereof.. The turning force thus com-4 part a. suicient number of: revolutions its. tailepiece 34e-engaging the bumper means The force of the instroke ofthe plunger when aty the limit of such-movement isreceived'byv the-buffer means 45, 46 lthus pre` venting an. abrupt stopping ofA the plunger and., lessening to a minimum the jar communicated; to theapparatus by such. stopping. 'Wlhen it is desired to again use the starterv the. operator raises the handle 15 to theupper end of Athe dash slot 17,.thereby turning the bijeech-block-socket 13 into register witl1.the.opening9`, .10, and to effect an ejection ofvv the contained shell from such4 socket the lever-15 isthrown into the registering transversely extending portion17a of its guideslot to cause an oscillation of the -lH-ever upon its fulerum. 1 8 to-impart aninwardshellejeoting movementto the ejectorpin 19. The lever `is-then moved into register with themajor portion 17 of' thev guide slotfand a loadedlcartridge. is inserted with-v inthe breech-block before returningv the same -to rfiring positiom.

,municatedto thely-wheel is adapted to'imv In starters of this character heretofore used, so tar as I am aware, it has been the practice to utilize the explosion actuated stroke of the plunger to communicate the starting movements to the engine. Ithas been found, however, that the sudden and powerful impact thus communicated to the ily-wheel or crank-shaft is very injurious to the engine and frequently twists or breaks parts thereof which are not of suicient strength to withstand the sudden starting action thus impartedthereto. It will be apparent, however, with the present form of starter that the impact of the explosion is only utilized to compress or store up a starting energy in the spring 4:2 whereby an even yielding starting pressure is exerted upon the fly-Wheel or other coacting part of the engine to start the same. This form ot' starter also exerts agradually increasing starting pressure upon the coacting rotary part ot' thel engine due to the plunger notbeing moved as .rapidly at. the initial or starting portion of its instrole as it is moving during the remainder of such stroke.

I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specific construction or arrangement ot' the parts except in so far as such limitations are specified in the claims.

YIaving thus described my invention, vvhat I claim ncv: and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,-

l. In an' apparatus of the class described, the combination with a movable member having a series of ratchet teeth, of reciprocal means influenced to normally stand in one Vposition of its movement and movable from such position by fluid pressure,l apavvl carried by said means 'for engaging the ratchet teeth and moving saidmemb'er upon. a nioven'ientof the means to normal'p'osi` tion, and means for automatically moving the paivl into and out ot ratchet engaging position at predetermined points in thel movements of said tirst means.

Q. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a movable member having a series of ratchet teeth, ot a plunger influenced to normally stand in one position of its movement and movable from such posit-ion by tluidpressure, a paWl carried by said plunger for engagement with said ratchet teeth, and yielding bumper means with which a part ot'` the pavvl coacts at predetermined points in` a movement of the plunger to move the-paWl into and out of engagementI with the ratchet teeth.

3. In an apparatus ot the class described, the combination with a rotatable member, of a barrel, a plunger movable in said barrel and having its movement-s in one direction actuated by fluid pressure, a part movable with the plunger Without the barrel, a coiled spring acting on said part to oppose the Huid pressure intiuenced movements of the plunger and adapted to cause a ret-urn of the plunger to normal position, and means for imparting rotation to said member from a movement of the plunger to normal position.

et. In an apparatus of the cla-ss described, the combinationivith a rotatable member, of a barrel having longitudinally extending slots therein and provided With exhaust ports, a plunger .movable in said barrel by an expansion ot' gases therein, a sleeve freely encircling said barrel and rigidly attached to the plunger through said slots, said sleeve being shouldered at the outer end thereof, means yieldingly acting von the shouldered end of the sleeve to return the plunger and sleeve to normal position after being moved by fluid pressure, and means carried by the plunger and automatically operable toengage and move said member when the plunger returns to normal position.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a part having a combustion chamber, a charge Ycarrying member which is rotatable into positions to receive a charge or to place a charge carried thereby into register vvith said combustion chamber, and yielding mechanical means controlled by a rotation of said member for firing a charge therein.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a part having a combustion chamber, a member having a charge carrying socket and rotatable to place such socket into chargereceiving or charge tiring positions, and sprinfr means for tiring a charge carried by sai member.

T. In an apparatus of the class described, a part having a combustion chamber therein,

-a charge carrying member having a socket and rotatable to place such socket into charge receiving or charge firing positions,

Vand a tiring-pin automat-ically operable to tire a charge carried by said member when its socket is moved into register with the combustion chamber.

S. In an apparatus'of the class described, a part having a combustion chamber therein, a member having a charge carrying socket and rotatable to place such socket into oi out of register with said chamber, and spring actuated tiring means automatically controlled by the movements of said member to tire the charge carried thereby when in reg` ister with said chamber.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, a movable charge carrying part, and a firingpin automatically operable to tire a charge carried by said part when the part is moved to a predetermined position.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, a 'rotatable charge carrying part, and a tiringpin automatically` operable to tire a charge carried by said part- When the part is moved to a predetermined position.

l. In' an apparatus of the class described, a charge carrying part movable to and from charge receivingA and ring positions, and spring firing means automatically controlled by 'the movements of said part to iire a charge When the part is moved to firing position.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, a rotatable charge carrying part, a ring pin, a spring actuated hammer for striking said pin, and means movable by said part to retract the hammer and then release it to strike thev firing pin at a predetermined' point'in a movement of said' part.

13. In an apparatus of the class described, a rotatable charge carrying part, a ring pin associated with such part, a hammer for striking said pin, a spring finger attached to said hammer, and means movablevvith said part for moving the spring finger to retract the hammer and to release the vfinger to permit it to move the hammer to strike the pin ata predetermined point in the movement of said part.

14. In an appara-tus of the class described,

a member having a cartridge receiving socket and movable to place such socket into cartridge ejecting or tiring positions, and-means operable to move said member and to eject a cartridge from its socket when moved to cartridge ejecting position.

copie: of this patent may be'vobtained 15. In an apparatus of the class described, a member having a cartridge receiving socket and being rotatable to place suoli socket in cartridge ejecting or ring positions, and

ber about its aXis, a cartridge ejecting pin movable by said lever when oseillated upon its first mentioned fulcium, and means guiding said lever to prevent it from turning on its first mentioned ulcrum except When the member is in cartridge ejecting position.

`In testimony whereof, I have hereunto .signed my name to this specification in the presence of tivo subscribing Witnesses.

WILLIAM EMIL BOCK.

Witnesses:

C. W. OWEN,

M. Q. OPrnNnniM.

for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

.Washingtom D. C. 

